Arron_Alderson

In the shadow-soaked alleys of a city where memories are both currency and weapon, burned-out detective Maxwell Hartwell is known for his unique immunity to memory extraction, a trait that marks him as both an asset and an outcast. When enigmatic Elena Voss approaches him to investigate the murder of Victor Kane, a top memory trader renowned for his ruthless ambition, Max is drawn into a web of deceit that permeates the highest echelons of society.

Max's investigation leads him deep into the underbelly of the memory trade, where human experiences are bought and sold to the highest bidder, altering personalities and histories at will. As he navigates this dangerous landscape, he's forced to contend with his former partner, Detective Sarah Lim, who walks a thin line between law enforcement and moral compromise. Throughout his journey, Max is aided by the Archivist, a secretive figure who trades in illicit memories, providing Max with information that cannot be obtained by conventional means.

As Max delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a disturbing truth: Victor Kane's death is merely the surface of a much larger conspiracy that threatens to topple the precarious balance of power within the city. His investigation reveals a sinister plot to control the memory market, orchestrated by figures that blur the line between friend and foe.

Haunted by fragments of his own inaccessible past, Max must navigate through layers of betrayal and manipulation, confronting painful truths about himself and those he once trusted. The closer he gets to solving the murder, the more entangled he becomes in a struggle for power that will define the future of memory itself.

With the city on the brink of chaos, Max is faced with a choice that will not only determine his own fate but also the fate of a society where memories can be rewritten at will. As alliances shift and secrets are unearthed, Max must decide whether to continue protecting a world that has forsaken him or forge a new path that could lead to redemption—or ruin.

Neon Shadows - Memories of Sin

Baybridge City was a powder keg waiting to explode, its streets teeming with unrest and uncertainty. Max Hartwell walked through the crowded marketplace, his senses on high alert as he navigated the throngs of people—a sea of faces, each one hiding secrets of their own.

The recent revelations about Councilman Gilbert Crane's involvement in Victor Kane's experiments had sent shockwaves through the city, shaking its foundations to the core. But as Max delved deeper into the conspiracy, he realized that Crane was just the tip of the iceberg—a puppet in a much larger game of power and greed.

Max ducked into a narrow alleyway, the shadows embracing him like an old friend. He needed to regroup, to figure out his next move in bringing down Crane and exposing the corruption that had infested Baybridge City like a cancer.

But before he could even begin to formulate a plan, a figure stepped out of the darkness—a man with a face like stone and eyes as cold as ice.

"Max Hartwell," the man greeted, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down Max's spine. "I've been expecting you."

Max tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for the revolver at his side. "Who are you? What do you want?"

The man smirked, a cruel twist of his lips that spoke of danger and deceit. "I'm a friend of Councilman Crane's—a friend with a message. He wants to make it clear that he doesn't take kindly to threats, especially from the likes of you."

Max's jaw clenched, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "Tell Crane I'm not afraid of him. Tell him I'm coming for him, and there's nothing he can do to stop me."

The man's smirk widened into a grin, his eyes glinting with malice. "We'll see about that, Hartwell. We'll see."

With that, the man disappeared back into the shadows, leaving Max alone with his thoughts and a sense of foreboding that hung heavy in the air.

But Max was undeterred. Crane may have friends in high places, but Max had something they didn't—a burning desire for justice, and the determination to see it through to the bitter end.

As he stepped back out into the bustling streets of Baybridge City, Max knew that the battle ahead would be long and treacherous. But he also knew that he wouldn't be fighting alone.

For in a city divided by corruption and greed, there were still those who dared to stand up and fight for what was right. And Max Hartwell was ready to lead the charge, no matter the cost.

Chapter 21: A City Divided